Recently, two US warships passed through the Taiwan Strait, marking the first time American warships have sailed through the Taiwan Strait since President Trump took office. Experts believe that this move demonstrates Washington’s commitment to maintaining the status quo and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Through these actions, Trump continues to deter the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to prevent any miscalculations or provocations.
The ships involved in the US military passage included the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer “Ralph Johnson” (DDG 114) and the oceanographic survey ship “USNS Bowditch”. These two vessels passed from north to south through the Taiwan Strait from February 10th to 12th.
A spokesperson for the US Indo-Pacific Command, Matthew Comer, stated, “This transit operation took place in a strait in the Taiwan Strait that is not part of the territorial waters of any coastal country.”
In response, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guo Jiakun, reiterated accusations of “provocation” during a press conference.
However, before the US warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the Chinese military increased its activities in the surrounding waters and airspace around Taiwan following the end of Chinese New Year military readiness on February 5th. Major General Sun Lifang, spokesperson for Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, pointed out that there is no need to debate who is the “troublemaker,” as neighboring countries all recognize the importance of freedom of navigation for allied countries in the Taiwan Strait.
On February 14th, Dr. Zhong Zhi Dong, the director of the National Security Institute of Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, told Epoch Times, “First of all, it is not something new for US warships to sail through the Taiwan Strait, but what’s important is that this is the first time after Trump took office. I think this demonstrates Washington’s continuity in its Taiwan Strait policy, which is to maintain the current situation in the Taiwan Strait and promote peace and stability.”
“Secondly, Trump continues to deter China through actions and strength to prevent any miscalculations or provocations by the CCP. Thirdly, just as Trump has mentioned the freedom of navigation, it highlights that the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway, which is the basic position and understanding of the United States. Fourthly, it echoes the joint statement of the US-Japan summit.”
Dr. Zhong believes that “Trump’s statements at the US-Japan summit can be seen as his formal declaration on the Taiwan Strait issue in an international forum, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the significance of Taiwan to US and regional security, I think these are the four main points.”
In addition, Colonel Ou Xifu, director of the PLA Political-Military and Operational Concepts Research Institute of the Taiwan National Defense Academy, told Epoch Times on February 14th that the US Secretary of Defense appointed by Trump once said that to resolve the Ukraine conflict, the focus should be on countering the CCP. Beijing views the Taiwan Strait as China’s internal waters, but in international law or the perception of the international community, it is an international waterway.
Ou Xifu stated, “In addition to US vessels passing through the Taiwan Strait, the United States has recently conducted joint exercises with countries such as the Philippines and Japan. US aircraft carriers have also been active in the South China Sea, indicating US responses to the CCP’s provocations in the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and even the East China Sea.”
On February 6th, 24 Republican members of the US House of Representatives introduced a resolution calling on the Trump administration to abandon the outdated, counterproductive, and dishonest “One China Policy,” restore formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, negotiate a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with Taiwan, and support Taiwan’s membership in international organizations.
Both ruling and opposition lawmakers in Taiwan expressed optimism and believed that this was a positive development for Taiwan.
Dr. Zhong Zhi Dong of the National Security Institute of Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense remarked, “The proposal made by the US House of Representatives to normalize Taiwan-US relations has its possibilities. Of course, certain conditions need to be met. However, it carries symbolic significance, highlighting the absurdity of the Republic of China Taiwan as a sovereign independent country being oppressed by the CCP and receiving unjust treatment in the international community.”
Furthermore, Dr. Zhong believes that the proposal put forth by the 24 Republican members of the US House of Representatives also indicates that the normalization of Taiwan-US relations has become a topic in Washington and is gaining momentum. This is primarily due to the US countering the CCP, with Taiwan becoming an important card in the hands of the United States.